Summer Pasta with Grilled Eggplant Sauce

• servings: 6 servings
• total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Grated zest (about 1 teaspoon) and juice of 1 lemon

1 pound mezze rigatoni

1 large eggplant, about 1 1/4 pounds

11 ounces cherry tomatoes (about 2 cups), halved (quartered if large)

3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup ricotta

1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for serving

1 cup packed basil leaves, chopped, plus more for serving

1/2 cup packed parsley leaves, chopped, plus more for serving

Crushed red pepper flakes, for serving (optional)

Directions

Prepare a grill for high heat.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lemon juice to the boiling water and cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain the pasta and return it to the pot; set aside.

Pierce the eggplant a few times with a fork or knife. Place on the grill, cover and cook, turning every 8 to 10 minutes, until completely charred all over and the flesh is soft when pressed, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool slightly for 10 minutes.

While the eggplant cooks, prepare 2 sheets of foil, each 12-by-12-inches, and stack them together. Place the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in the center of the foil. Fold over 2 opposite sides of the foil then fold in the remaining sides to create a tight seal. When 15 minutes of cooking time remain for the eggplant, add the foil pack to the grill and cook until juices start to bubble out of the top (this means the tomatoes and garlic are sufficiently cooked without having to open the pack), 13 to 15 minutes.

Remove the eggplant to a cutting board (keeping any juices that accumulated in the bowl) and squeeze gently to crack the skin and expose the flesh. Use a spoon to remove the flesh, transfer to the large bowl and mash lightly with the spoon or a potato masher (you should have about 1 cup of flesh); discard the skin. Stir in the ricotta and Pecorino Romano until smooth then pour into the pot with the pasta and mix until combined. Fold in the contents of the foil pack (including any juices that accumulated), the basil, parsley, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper; stir until combined, adding the reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to thin out the sauce if needed. Serve with more basil, parsley, Pecorino Romano and crushed red pepper flakes if using.

Nutrition

• Calories: 446
• Total Fat: 11g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Cholesterol: 32mg
• Sodium: 717mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 69g
• Dietary Fiber: 6g
• Total Sugars: 7g
• Protein: 18g